Chairman and chief software designer of Microsoft Corporation, the universal leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing, William (Bill) H. Gates is undoubtedly the world's richest man. Employing more than 55,000 people in 85 countries and regions all over, Microsoft's revenues amounted to US$32.19 billion for the fiscal year ending June 2003. Born on October 28, 1955, Gates grew up in Seattle. He attended public elementary school and the private Lakeside School. At a young age of 13, he discovered his fascination with computers and started programming computers. In 1973, Gates entered Harvard University where he was to meet Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's current chief executive officer. During his days at Harvard, Gates developed a version of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer-the MITS Altair. In his earlier years, Gates quit Harvard and dedicated his efforts to Microsoft, a company he had founded with his childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975. His prime guide remained the belief that computers would come to dominate every office desktop and homes, and with this he began developing software for personal computers. This very foresight has been the force behind the glowing success of Microsoft and the software industry. Microsoft's first browser, Internet Explorer 1.0, was licensed from a company called Spyglass.Today Microsoft stands as the world's most powerful supplier of Web browsers and it is rightly attributed to Gates. Under Gates' leadership, Microsoft's mission has been to continuously improve on computer software to make it easier, more cost-effective and more enjoyable for people. Gates was the author of The Road Ahead, which held the top-spot on the New York Times' bestseller list for seven weeks. In 1999, Gates authored Business @ the Speed of Thought, a book that showed how computer technology can solve business problems in various new ways. This book was published in 25 different languages and is available in more than 60 countries. This book, which received wide critical acclaim was listed on the best-seller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and Amazon.com. The proceeds of both these books were donated by him to non-profit organizations which encourage the use of technology in education and skills development. Together with his love of computers and software, Gates is immensely interested in biotechnology. He is among the members of the board of ICOS, a company that focuses on protein-based and small-molecule therapeutics, and is also the investor in a number of other biotechnology companies. Gates is also the founder of Corbis, which develops one of the world's largest resources of visual information- a comprehensive digital collection of art and photography from public and private collections around the globe. Philanthropy is a part of this computer-genius. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is built upon the unparalleled opportunities of the 21st century to improve equity in global health and learning. This foundation was created in January 2000, by merging the Gates Learning Foundation, working to expand access to technology through public libraries, and the William H. Gates Foundation, which focused on improving global health. Led by Bill Gates' father, William H. Gates Sr., and Patty Stonesifer, the Seattle-based foundation has an endowment of approximately $27 billion. This foundation has supported initiatives in the areas of global health and learning, hoping that as we move into the 21st century, advances to these critical arenas will be made available to all. Most of Bill's personal beliefs are centered around working hard and trying to succeed. He believes that if one is intelligent and knows how to apply that intelligence one can accomplish anything. Microsoft's vision is "A computer on every desk, and Microsoft software on every computer." Microsoft is out to create history in the next four years when it makes a payment of $75 billion as special dividend to its investors. This is the highest payoff ever made to investors by a company. In the last two years, Microsoft has made significant progress in resolving a number of legal issues facing the company. These included the US Court of Appeals decision reaffirming its settlement with the Department of Justice, most of the state class-action lawsuits, and the AOL and Sun Microsystems cases - along with patent claims such as the InterTrust litigation. Resolutions of these issues are an important step in expounding the company's legal and such business risk. Under the plan, Microsoft will pay out a special dividend worth $32 billion in December, buy back $30 billion in stock over the next four years and double its quarterly dividend to 8 percents a share. More so, Bill Gates, who is the biggest shareholder, company co-founder and chairman, will be giving away his estimated $3 billion to his charitable foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This landmark payoff will be accompanied by the shareholders gaining in other ways too. The buying back of stock will mean lesser shares outstanding, which will mean more earning per share. Gates is obviously a visionary, but he works very hard and competitively to carry out his vision. His belief in hard work and high intelligence is why he's standing where he is. These beliefs are indeed few, but are powerful in the computer software industry and will continue to increase his position and monopoly in the industry.